Top 5 EU Countries Facing AI Skill Shortages

75% of employers in Europe struggled to fill AI roles in 2023, highlighting a severe talent shortage across the region. While the United Kingdom and United States lead in AI expertise, EU countries are falling behind due to brain drain and insufficient training programs. Here's a quick look at the countries facing the biggest challenges:

• Germany: Hiring delays of up to 6 months, brain drain to the US and UK, and limited AI-specific education.
• France: 80% of employers report difficulty hiring, with a growing talent gap and professionals leaving for Switzerland and the US.
• United Kingdom: Despite having 1.8x more AI professionals than the EU average, 80% of employers struggle to hire due to a skills mismatch and brain drain to the US.
• Ireland: Sharp increase in AI talent shortages (81% in 2023), with reliance on entry-level talent from India but difficulty retaining experienced professionals.
• Poland: Rising demand for AI experts (75% employer difficulty), with many professionals leaving for Western Europe and the US.

Why It Matters

Nearly half of European IT professionals lack AI expertise, threatening innovation and competitiveness. Governments across these countries are introducing initiatives like AI-focused education, public-private partnerships, and visa programs to attract and retain talent. However, limited funding and slow implementation hinder progress.

Quick Comparison Table

Country	Hiring Challenges (% Employers)	Key Issues	Government Initiatives
Germany	75%	Long hiring delays, brain drain	Blue Card EU, STEM programs
France	80%	Brain drain to Switzerland/US	AI research funding, STEM education
United Kingdom	80%	Skills mismatch, brain drain to US	University-industry partnerships
Ireland	81%	Retention of experienced talent	Visa reforms, STEM funding
Poland	75%	Brain drain to Western Europe/US	AI training programs, competitive salaries

Europe must act quickly to close the AI skills gap through better education, stronger industry ties, and focused investments in talent retention.

1. Germany: AI Talent Shortages

AI Job Demand

Germany is experiencing a significant challenge in filling AI-related technical positions, with hiring delays stretching up to six months. These prolonged timelines are not unique to Germany but reflect a wider issue across the EU, where technical roles in the AI sector remain unfilled for extended periods ^[2].

Talent Migration Patterns

Despite Germany's strong economy, many AI professionals are leaving for higher-paying opportunities in countries like the UK, Switzerland, and the US ^[1]. This talent migration further aggravates the already existing gap in Germany’s AI workforce.

Educational Infrastructure for AI

Germany’s education system, while robust in many areas, falls short when it comes to offering enough AI-specific training programs. Combined with an aging population, this shortfall widens the disconnect between what academia produces and what the industry needs ^[2].

Government Initiatives to Address Skill Shortages

The Blue CardEU program is one of Germany's strategies to attract skilled workers from outside the EU, with many professionals coming from countries like India, Russia, and Turkey. However, its overall impact is limited, partly due to the relatively modest €500 million EU budget allocated for digital skills development ^{[1] [4]}. This highlights a broader EU-wide challenge in retaining and developing AI talent.

For those seeking AI roles in Germany, platforms like Next Level Jobs EU offer a range of high-paying opportunities, including software engineering positions with salaries exceeding €100k.

While Germany grapples with these workforce and demographic issues, other countries like France face their own distinct challenges in addressing AI skill shortages.

2. France: Challenges in AI Workforce

AI Job Demand

France is experiencing a major shortage of AI professionals. Hiring challenges have surged dramatically - from 19% in 2018 to 80% in 2023 ^[2]. This is happening even as efforts to attract talent have ramped up.

Current State and Challenges

The gap in AI talent is growing, partly due to a brain drain to countries like Switzerland and the US ^[1]. Switzerland, in particular, appeals to French professionals because of its close proximity and shared language. Although France has a strong academic foundation and produces highly educated professionals, the system struggles to meet industry demands. Issues include limited specialized AI programs, a lack of alignment between education and job market needs, and low female participation in STEM fields.

Government Initiatives to Address Skill Shortages

To tackle these issues, the French government has introduced plans aimed at establishing the country as a global leader in AI ^[1]. These initiatives include:

• Strengthening ties between academia and industry
• Improving STEM education
• Attracting international talent
• Encouraging public-private partnerships in AI research

For professionals interested in France's AI job market, platforms like Next Level Jobs EU offer access to high-paying opportunities in the field.

France’s challenges highlight a larger problem across Europe. The EU estimates it will need around 11 million ICT specialists to meet its 2030 goals ^[3]. France’s struggles emphasize the urgency of a coordinated European strategy to grow and retain AI talent.

While France works to address these issues, other European countries, such as the UK, are also facing their own AI workforce challenges.

Can Europe Win the Age of AI?

3. United Kingdom: AI Skills in Demand

In the UK, 80% of employers struggle to fill AI roles, even though the country boasts 1.8 times more AI-skilled professionals than the EU average ^[2][3]. While the UK draws talent from Europe and India, a steady "brain drain" to the US worsens the skills shortage ^[1].

The country's education system faces three major challenges:

• Limited growth in STEM education, which slows the development of new talent.
• Low female participation, leading to less diversity in the field.
• A disconnect between academia and industry, causing a mismatch in the skills taught versus those needed.

To tackle these issues, the British government is focusing on building stronger ties between universities and industries while increasing investments in AI research and education. These initiatives align with broader EU efforts to close the AI skills gap through shared research and talent-building programs.

For job seekers, high-paying AI roles in the UK can be found on platforms like Next Level Jobs EU. While the UK remains a leading destination for AI professionals, neighboring countries, such as Ireland, are grappling with their own unique challenges in building AI talent pools.

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4. Ireland: AI Workforce Challenges

AI Job Demand

In 2023, 81% of Irish employers reported AI talent shortages, a dramatic jump from just 18% in 2018 ^[2][3]. This sharp increase underscores the growing gap in Ireland's AI workforce.

Talent Migration Patterns

Ireland has become a hub for entry-level AI professionals, particularly from India. However, retaining experienced talent remains a challenge, as many skilled workers leave for opportunities in the US ^[1]. This trend mirrors the broader European struggle to hold onto highly skilled AI professionals.

Educational Infrastructure for AI

Ireland has a solid STEM foundation, but there’s room for improvement. The country needs more specialized AI programs, better collaboration between universities and industries, and a stronger focus on real-world applications in education ^[1]. Public-private partnerships play a key role in Ireland’s strategy to bridge these gaps.

Government Initiatives to Address Skill Shortages

The Irish government is stepping up with targeted measures. These include funding specialized STEM programs, enhancing industry partnerships, and streamlining visa processes for AI professionals. Platforms like Next Level Jobs EU are also helping connect talent with lucrative AI roles, making Ireland appealing for experienced professionals.

While Ireland works on closing its AI talent gap, Poland faces its own distinct challenges in building a competitive AI workforce.

5. Poland: AI Talent Shortfalls

Poland is grappling with a major shortage of AI professionals. In 2023, 75% of employers reported difficulties filling AI roles - an increase from 42% in 2018 ^[2][3]. This issue is especially acute in tech hubs like Warsaw and Krakow. While the country does attract talent from Eastern Europe, many experienced professionals leave for opportunities in Western Europe or the US, contributing to a persistent brain drain ^[1].

Although Polish universities offer programs in AI and data science, advanced training in areas like machine learning and natural language processing (NLP) is still lacking ^[1]. To tackle this, the government is investing in AI research and development, working with industries to create new training programs, and updating STEM education to encourage more students to enroll in AI-related courses.

To address the talent gap, companies in Poland are turning to platforms like Next Level Jobs EU. By offering competitive salaries on par with those in Western Europe, they aim to attract skilled professionals and position Poland as a desirable destination for AI talent. At the same time, these efforts aim to strengthen the domestic talent pool for long-term growth.

Poland’s challenges in retaining AI talent reflect a broader issue across Europe. The country’s initiatives to address its talent shortages highlight the need for a coordinated approach across the region to bridge the skills gap.

Conclusion

Europe is facing a growing challenge: a shortage of AI talent that threatens its ability to compete globally. Since 2018, employers have struggled more and more to fill AI-related roles ^[2][3]. Compared to its competitors, the EU is falling behind. For instance, the UK has nearly twice as many AI-skilled workers, while the US boasts three times as many ^[4].

Industry leaders are sounding the alarm. Brian Allen, CEO of Rovco, stated:

"Nearly half of European IT workers lack AI skills, putting industries at risk of falling behind" ^[5].

This highlights the urgent need for Europe to address its skills gap. Some countries, such as Germany and France, are already taking steps by implementing policies like the Blue Card EU and reforms in STEM education to attract and retain talent ^[1]. Platforms like Next Level Jobs EU also play a part by connecting professionals with well-paying roles, helping to reduce the talent drain.

The European Commission is working on AI-focused Master's programs to develop expertise, though current funding levels may need to be reevaluated ^[4]. Tackling this issue requires a multi-pronged approach, including:

• Increased investment in STEM education with a focus on AI
• Stronger partnerships between public and private sectors to nurture talent
• Greater efforts to encourage female participation in tech
• Closer collaboration between universities and industries

Upskilling workers in areas like data science, machine learning, and analytics is essential to Europe's AI journey ^[5]. By addressing these issues together, Europe has a chance to strengthen its position in the world of AI.

FAQs

Which country has the highest demand for AI engineers?

The United States stands out as the leader in AI demand, thanks to its strong tech industry, top-tier universities, and attractive salaries. This dominance has created a talent drain from Europe, where countries like Germany often face hiring delays of up to six months ^[4].

This talent gap is a major issue for Europe, where nearly half of IT professionals lack the necessary AI expertise ^[5]. The ongoing migration of skilled workers to the U.S. poses a serious obstacle to the EU's progress in AI. While European policymakers are rolling out programs to tackle this, limited funding for digital skill development remains a hurdle ^[4].

To stay competitive, Europe is prioritizing training in areas like data science, machine learning, and analytics ^[5]. For those looking to advance their careers within Europe, platforms such as Next Level Jobs EU are stepping in to connect AI professionals with roles offering salaries of €100k or more.

For Europe to compete globally, it must not only retain its talent but also create a thriving AI ecosystem. The U.S.'s strong position continues to attract talent, making it even more urgent for European nations to invest in their AI infrastructure and workforce development.